Judge ordered to reconsider sealing of Planned Parenthood shooting documents
The Colorado Supreme Court told the judge in the Planned Parenthood shooting case to reconsider his sealing of court records in light of recent developments.
First Amendment
El Paso County judge defends sealing of records in Planned Parenthood shooting case
The judge in the Planned Parenthood shooting case defended his sealing of court records, arguing that news organizations did not have a First Amendment or Colorado constitutional right to inspect the records while the police investigation was ongoing.
Supreme Court orders El Paso judge to explain sealing of Planned Parenthood shooting records
An El Paso County District Court judge has until Feb. 16 to justify his sealing of court records in the case against accused Planned Parenthood shooter Robert Lewis Dear, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled.
Media groups, CFOIC ask state Supreme Court to order unsealing of Planned Parenthood affidavits
More than two dozen news media organizations asked the Colorado Supreme Court to order an El Paso County District Court judge to unseal records in the case against accused Planned Parenthood shooter Robert Lewis Dear or justify their continued sealing under the First Amendment.
Tattered Cover owner Joyce Meskis – a First Amendment ‘hero’
As owner of Tattered Cover, the iconic group of independent bookstores, Joyce Meskis is known and admired by Coloradans across the state for nurturing their love of reading over the past four decades. They may be less familiar with Meskis as a First Amendment champion.
Federal appeals court asked to suppress name of Oklahoma execution doctor
The federal appeals court in Denver has been asked to decide a First Amendment question involving the botched Oklahoma execution of Clayton Lockett and the doctor who oversaw the injection of legal drugs into the convicted killer in 2014.
Sine die: How FOI legislation fared in the 2015 Colorado General Assembly
Unlike last year’s General Assembly, which amended both the open-records and open-meetings laws, state legislators in 2015 were somewhat quieter on matters affecting government transparency and the flow of information in Colorado. Still, significant new measures are expected to be signed into law. A few others didn’t make it.
State lawmakers send right-to-record bill to governor’s desk, kill police body-camera bill
A bipartisan bill that underscores a civilian’s right to record police is on its way to Gov. John Hickenlooper’s desk following the House’s acceptance of a Senate amendment that limits how long someone’s cellphone or other recording device can be held while a search warrant is sought.
Judge tosses out federal lawsuit over retail marijuana advertising in Colorado
A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit brought by the Colorado Press Association and the Pulp magazine in Pueblo over state regulations that restrict recreational marijuana advertising.
Arvada resident who sued his city wins Colorado Press Association’s “Friend of the First” award
Russell Weisfield, whose lawsuit over the use of secret ballots by the Arvada City Council led to a change in the state Open Meetings Law last year, won the Colorado Press Association’s “Friend of the First” award.